The Dumbbell Nebula M27 was the first planetary nebula ever discovered.
Charles Messier first encountered this very large and bright nebula in
1764.

The bright portion of the nebula (visible here) is expanding at a rate
of nearly 7 arc seconds per century, leading to an estimated age of 3,000
to 4,000 years since the central star's shell ejection. The central star
is very hot (85,000 K) and quite bright at mag 13.5. As for most planetary
nebulae, the distance of M27 is not well known. A wide range of existing
estimates average at around 1,200 light years.

Here is an earlier version taken with a digital SLR camera:

This is my first astrophotograph taken with my new Canon EOS 5D Digital
SLR camera, and in fact an image recorded at my first ever star party -
the Autumn Equinox Star Party at Kelling Heath, Norfolk, UK, in September
2006.